New Delhi, 12 November, 2026: PlayBlue, a new multi-brand sports retailer, today announced Indian cricketer KL Rahul as an investor and brand ambassador, marking a significant milestone ahead of the store & app launch on November 14, 2026. The partnership marks a significant step in PlayBlue’s ambition to build an integrated sports retail ecosystem, bringing together leading brands, specialised sporting equipment and experiential retail for India’s growing community of athletes and sports enthusiasts.
As an investor, Rahul becomes a stakeholder in PlayBlue’s growth journey, while his role as brand ambassador will see him represent the brand across campaigns and consumer-facing initiatives.
Riding on the wave of strong investor sentiment, PlayBlue will launch its 20,000 sq ft flagship store on 80 Feet Road, Koramangala, Bengaluru, alongside its digital app. Spread across three retail floors, a café level and a rooftop terrace, the store will bring together 75+ sports and lifestyle brands across apparel, footwear, equipment, accessories, recovery products and sports nutrition, catering to everyone from beginners to experienced athletes.
As the brand ambassador and investor, KL Rahul said, “For any athlete, the right equipment and preparation matter the most. Whether it’s finding the right bat, the right pair of shoes or the right training gear, these things can make a real difference to how you play and perform. What I like about PlayBlue is its vision of making quality sports products more accessible while building a stronger sporting culture. PlayBlue is creating a space that makes that journey easier and more exciting. I’m happy to come on board as an investor and brand ambassador, and excited to be part of what they’re building.”
“Having worked closely with KL over the years in the IPL, partnering with him for a third time at PlayBlue is truly special. He is one of the most versatile and accomplished cricketers India has ever seen, and that versatility, along with his effortless style on and off the field, is exactly what PlayBlue stands for. We’re proud to have him with us as both ambassador and investor,” said Satyam Trivedi, Co-founder, PlayBlue.
“India has world-class athletes and a fast-growing base of serious amateurs, but buying sport here hasn’t kept up with them,” said Jayam Vora, Co-Founder of PlayBlue. “We’re building the store we wanted to walk into ourselves. Having KL Rahul on board as both an investor and our ambassador gives us a partner who knows what the right gear means to someone who plays.”
PlayBlue is being built around the evolving needs of India’s sporting community, addressing a fragmented retail landscape where consumers often navigate multiple stores and online platforms to find the right equipment. The brand aims to bring product discovery, expert guidance, equipment testing and digital convenience into a single, integrated ecosystem.
Moving beyond conventional retail, PlayBlue incorporates interactive experiences such as gait analysis, treadmill-based footwear testing and cricket bat sensors to help customers make informed purchase decisions. Additional services include racquet stringing, bat knocking and cycle servicing, creating a more comprehensive sporting retail experience.
The rooftop, The Playground, features a full-sized pickleball court, one-on-one futsal turf and a cricket net with a bowling machine. The space will also host community classes, recovery sessions and sports club events. Play Cafe x Kenko, the in-house café and nutrition space, further brings together food, wellness and community.
Complementing the flagship store, the PlayBlue app will extend the brand’s offering beyond Bengaluru, with quick deliveries across the city and a two-day delivery timeline for orders across the rest of India.
With its retail and digital offerings launching simultaneously, PlayBlue aims to establish a differentiated presence in India’s evolving sports retail landscape, bringing brands, experiences and sporting communities together through a unified platform.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
